The first silo of this kind was built by us about ten years ago, on the farm of Carl A. Olstad, Hanska, Minnesota. This silo was built for experimenting. Having a silo right on the ground, in actual use, all of these years, we were in position to continually improve on the construction and material, until we now claim the A. C. O. Silo “The Best Silo Known…” (Ochs Advertising Brochure)
On Mr. Olstad’s farm the first clay block silo was built by A. C. Ochs in the year 1904 and named A. C. O. silo. Both Mr. Olstad and Mr. Ochs were young men then. Mr. Olstad risked at that time, but he had faith and ordered it built. (Ochs Advertising Brochure)
Page 152. Our Farm Barn. By Carl Olstad, Hanska, Minnesota. We submit a rough ground plan and outline of our barn. The structure is 26 feet wide, 96 feet long, and 14 feet high to the plate. We have used the gambrel style of roof, which gives us more room for hay. As will be seen, this barn is only 26 feet wide. We chose this width in order to be able to put the barn up with a lighter frame work than would otherwise have been possible, and yet not sacrifice any material convenience.
Page 156. Our silo is built from hollow clay blocks 4 inches thick, 8 inches wide and 12 inches long, with two air spaces through them lengthwise, forming a shell about one inch thick. These clay blocks look very much like a clay drain tile, as far as color and texture goes, but they are burned much harder, being more nearly vitrified. These blocks were laid in a rich cement mortar, and at every other course two double strand wires were laid for reinforcing. This silo has stood the test for three winters and is all right. (Minnesota Farmers’ Institute Annual, Webb Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1909, Number 22)
Page 249. Clay Block Silo at Cedar Lodge. By Carl Olstad, Hanska, Minn. Our silo, 16 feet in diameter, 30 feet high, is built from clay blocks. The blocks are 4 inches thick, 8 inches wide and 1 foot long, moulded on a curve to fit a 16-foot circle. The blocks are hollow, the shell being about 1 inch thick and there being a 1-inch dividing rib in the middle. This forms two air spaces lengthwise through the block, each 2x2 ½ inches. On one side are two grooves, about an eighth of an inch deep and ½ inch wide. These grooves are about 1 inch from each edge, and their purpose is to make the block bed a little firmer in the mortar, as they are otherwise very smooth, being in appearance like a clay drain-tile, though burned somewhat harder to render them impervious to moisture.
Page 250. Mortar and Reinforcing. The mortar used was composed of two parts sand to one of Portland cement. A small quantity of lime was added, to make the mortar a little more elastic and free-spreading. The reinforcing used was two circles of two-strand twisted wire, of common fence-wire gauge. This wire was cut to proper lengths, the ends bent back to form hooks, and laid in the grooves on the blocks, in every other course. The wire was held in place, while laying the next course following, by laying blocks on it. These wire circles, then, are in the mortar, one near the inner edge, and one near the outer. They extend clear around the silo both below and above the doors. The circles of wire that would come in the door opening are cut in two in the middle of the door and the ends of the wire turned up in the mortar beside the door frame blocks. A pit 3 feet deep and 18 feet in diameter was dug, and in the bottom of this the foundation for the silo was laid. This consisted on a single course of rocks, laid to the outside of this pit, and flush with the bottom of it. The foundation was made this much wider than the silo so that the weight of the silo wall would come directly over the center of the foundation. On this foundation
Page 251. the silo was started, the outside of the wall being plastered as far up as the soil would come in contact with it. Staging. The staging was built on the inside, and the wall was laid so as to be as smooth as possible on the inner side; letting any irregularity in the size or shape of block appear on the outside, rather than getting hollows or humps inside. The mortar-courses should not be pointed off too much with the trowel, as this tends to form depressions. It is better to dress the mortar off just even with the blocks, even if it looks a little rough. Door-Frames. The door-frames are made of the clay tile also, only the blocks are made 2 feet long, and one edge is beveled. One of these pieces, laid with the beveled edge up and towards the inside of the silo, forms the door-sill. Two others, stood on end on top of it, with beveled edges in for the sides, and the fourth on top, finished the door-frame. It will thus be seen that the inner edge being beveled off admits of fitting a plank door from the inside, and one that cannot swell up and bind. Bolts 3/8 inches by 8 inches long were bent at right angles 2 inches from the head end, and laid in the mortar so that 2 ½ inches of the end with the thread on projects on the outside of the wall, both above and below and 8 inches to each side of each door opening. With these bolts 2x4’s were bolted to the silo, on which to build a chute. Roof. The rafters are tied to the silo wall with iron hooks, imbedded in the mortar 3 courses from the top, and extending up on the inside and over the rafters. A circle of 2-inch lumber was laid on top of the wall for a plate. The roof has a rise of about 4 feet to the center, and is boarded up and down with common roof-boards, ripped diagonally from one corner to the other. Finishing Touches. When the silo wall was completed, the inside was given a wash of clear cement, to fill any open places either in brick or mortar. This silo has stood for four winters, and there are no signs of cracking of the walls or peeling or chipping of the blocks; and I see no reason why it should not last a long time. The cost of a similar silo would depend on the distance the blocks had to be shipped, to some extent; but I think it would, on a average, come cheaper than a brick silo.
Page 252. Freezing. The question probably arises as to how much frost penetrates this kind of silo. In answering this, I would say that, compared with a stone silo of like diameter, the freezing will be about the same. There are stone silos in our neighborhood, exposed about the same as ours, and I have had a chance to observe. (Minnesota Farmers’ Institute Annual, Webb Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1910, Number 23)
Who was Carl Olstad?